Automatic stock-feeder



0. W. HINER, D. C. FARNHAM AND E. A. FARNHAM AUTOMATIC STOCK FEEDER.

APPLICATION FllED AUG.26\ i919.

Patenteauly 6, 1920.

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IIIIIIINTTIIIIIIIIT "illlllll Al THT 7| 0. W. HINER, D. FARNHAM AND E. A. FABNHAMMR.

.AUTOMATIC STQCK FEEDER.

AFPLlcAHoN FILED Amma,l 1919.

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Patented July 6, 1920.

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,39 I af av I E /9 /8 wiznhffw attorney] UNITED STATES ?ATE.NT 0FFIEL- ORA W. HINER, DANA C, FARNHAM, AND EL A. FARNEAM, JR., OF BUTLER,

Y NDIANA.

alimentario srocarnnnna.

Specification of Letters atent.

Patented July 6, 1920.

Application led August 2S, 1919. Serial No. 319.373.v

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that we, ORA W. Hman, DANA C. FARNHAM, and ELrA. FARNHAM, J r., citizens of the United' States, resid ing at Butler, in the county of Dekalb and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Stock-Feeders, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to stock feeding devices, and more particularly to the class of automatic or self feeders for hogs, pigs or other stock.

The primary obj ect of the invention is the provision of a feeder of this character, wherein chopped feed can be conveniently held and automatically delivered to a trough in quantities for the feeding of stock, such v as hogs, pigs or the like, without any possibility of the waste of the feed, the feeder being of novel construction to assure the positive feeding of the chop feed from the container therefor and the discharge of such feed being regulated by the stock when eating from the trough of the feeder.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a feeder of this character, wherein the container' for the feed has located therein an agitator of a novel con struction to assure the positive feeding of the contents in quantities within the trough of the feeder', the agitator being of novel form and is automatic in its action and is controlled by the stock, so that only a sufficient quantity of feed will be delivered to the trough to be consumed by the stock.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a feeder of this character, wherein the construction thereof protects the feed contained therein during inclement weather, to prevent the wetting of the feed, which results in molding thereof or the rotting of the same and also avoids any possibility of the waste of the feed when the feeder is in use.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a feeder of this character, which is comparatively simple in construction, very reliable and efficient in its purpose, readily and easily portable, accessible to animals from either side of the feeder, strong, durable and inexpensive to manufacture.

With these and other objects 1n view, the

invention consists in the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be'hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a feeder constructed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a slightly enlarged fragmentary vertical longitudinal sectional view through the feeder.

liig. 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view thereof.

Fig. 4i is a fragmentary perspective view of the agitator.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views in the drawings.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the feeder comprises a body or frame A, including spaced vertical ends 5, preferably of the shape-shown having disposed therebetween a relatively long trough 6 supported upon cleats 7 fixed to the inner faces of the ends spaced from the lower edges thereof, the side walls 8 of the trough 6 being arranged in outwardly divergent relation to each other while centrally within said trough and longitudinally thereof is a dividing wall or partition 9 separating the trough into independent feeding spaces at opposite sides thereof to be accessible to stock when standing on either side of the frame A of the feeder. n

Suitably mounted inthe frame A between the ends 5 thereof above the trough 6 is a hopper shaped bin or feed container 10 which is formed with an opening 11 at its lowermost portion and extends throughout the length of the trough 6 for the delivery of the contents of the bin or container 10 into said trough. Located interiorly of the bin or container 10 spaced from the opening 11 in the lower portion thereof and eX- tending longitudinally centrally of the same is a false bottom 12 providing at opposite sides thereof discharge slots 13, the bottom 12 being formed with angularly disposed sides or walls 14 which are reversely inclined with respect toeach other for directing the contents of the bin or container i() to both of the discharge slots 13 on opposite sides ofy the bottom 12 for the delivery of the contents through the opening 11 into the trough 6in the use of the feeder.

rlhe bin or container 10 has litted thereon a crowned roof which slopes in opposite .directions and has a crown 16, the sections of the roof 15 being removable to permit access to the binorcontainer 10 for the introduction of feed therein. VThis roof 15 will shed water so as to exclude the same from the interior lof the bin or container 10 during inclement weather. Located interiorly of the bin-or container 10 at intervals throughout the length of the same are f spaced transverse partitions or dividing walls 17 which separate said vbin or contalner 10 into independent compartments V18, so that the feed in the compartments will fbe deliveredto the trough 6 therefrom independently of each other, the dividing walls or partitions 17 being cut in a manner l `tovbridge the false bottom-12 andthe de- `Fig. 3 of the drawings.

fl'ector walls 14 thereof as will appear in Mounted within theends 5 of the frame A below the false bottom 12 centrally thereof is a longitudinal pivot shaft or rod 19 upon which are swingingly supported depending nose or head boards or sections 20, each being lit-ted with straphangers 21 loosely embracing the `rod 19 Afor the Vhanging of the board or section 20 therefrom in proper position normally in vertical alinementwith thefpartition 9 in the trough 6, while surrounding the shaft or rod 19 between the sections 20 are spacer disk washers 22 which sustain said boards or sectionsv 20 in their proper separated relation to each other when suspended from the rod or shaft 19 above the trough of the feeder.

Located within the bin or container 1() is an agitator mechanismfor the feed, there being a pair of agitators for each compartment 18 comprising skeleton slides, each including spaced longitudinal side rails 23 and cross rungs or webs 24, which are integral with the side rails or made separate therefrom and fastened thereto in any suitable manner. These slides are located ineach compartment 18 on the Vinner faces of opposite sides thereof for up and down movement thereon. Carried by the opposed pair of slides spaced from the lower ends thereof are suitable brackets 25, while liXed to the head or nos-e board or section 20'adjacent thereto and on opposite sides of thesame are inverted substantially VL-shaped brackets V26 and to the saidrbrackets 25 at their free ends are pivoted links or connecting stems 27, the same beingVV passed throughv the 4brackets 26 vatthe free-arms thereof and carry adjusting nuts 128 for connectingv the links or stems 27 tothe brackets 26. It will be seen that on the rocking of the head or nose board 2O throughV the medium of the Vsion spring Bwhich has'its ends engaged r Carried by each slide is a swinging follower wing in the form of an open frame 29 lhtwing on the sidemembers thereof-at their ends next to the slide-pivot straps 30 receiving a pivot 31 which is journaled in bearings; 3.2 on the slide and in this manner the follower 29 is swingingly connected to said slide. Mounted upon the pivot 31 is a tenwith the slide and the follower respectively7 the spring 33 beingV designed to move the follower' 29 outwardly away from the slide to act upon the-feed` within the compartment 18 within the bin or container 10 to forcesaid feed downwardly therein. It will be apparent that the follower 29 moves with the slide so that it cooperates therewith to actas an agitator for the feed within the compartment 18 Ato assure the positive feed- J5 ingof the chopped feed within the bin or container 10 when the feeder is in use.

Connected with one of the cross rungs or webs 24 of the slide at an intermediate point thereof is one end of 4a coiled retractile 100 "spring 34., which has its opposite end engaged with a hook 35 mounted in the bin Vnear the upper end thereofv or adjacent Vto thereof 15 thereof, the spring Bil being designed to normally retract the 'slide ol 105 movethe same to a position elevated within the bin or container 10. The springs 34s on t-hepair of slides within each compartment 18 will exert' an upward pressure on the brackets 26 when the head or nose board 2O 110 i hangsV vertically. Then when the board 20 is swung in one direction, one spring will be positively stretched, 'and the other spring, relieved from part of the weight on it, will raise the agitatory attached" thereto. When the animal withdraws vits nose from the trough the agitator which has previously been raised as explained will 'descend to its former position,l yet on displacement of the nose or head board 20v laterally to either 120 side of the trough 6 either of the slides within the compartment 18 will be moved against the resistance of. the retractile spring 34:

for agitating the contents'ofthe bin or container lO'and positively move the feed with- 125 of the feed Within the compartments 18 becoming clogged or choked in the discharge slots i3 and opening 1l or the banking of the feed Within said compartment, there being a positive feed of the contents from the bin or container l() into the trough 6 when the agitator'mechanism is active and this agitator mechanism is actuated by the nose or head board when operated by the stock. A

Each follower 29 at its upper free end has connected thereto a swinging hook 3G adapted for detachable engagement with a keeper 37 mounted in each side Wall of the bin or container 10 so that the folloiver 29 can be positioned as shoivn at the right hand side of Fig. 3 of the drawing When it is desired to introduce feed Within the bin or container 10, Without interfering with the introduction of the feed therein. After the bin or container lO has been filled with feed the followers 29 are released from their open position by disengaging the hook 36 from the keeper 37 and the springs 33 will become active upon said followers to move the same toward each other for exerting'pres sure upon the feed Within the respective compartments. 18 in the bin or container l0 to assure the positive delivery of the feed therefrom into the trough 6 when one or any number of the head or nose boards 20 are moved by the stoclr for the automatic delivery of quantities of feed into the trough 6 to be consumed bv the stock,

Passed' at intervals through the dividing Wall 9 in the trough 6 are transverse tie rods 3S which are engaged in the sides 8 of said trough and also engaged in braces 39 which are .fixed to the sides of the bin or container l0, thus it ivill be seen that these tie rods 38 and braces 39 separate the trough into feeding spaces.

lt will be apparent that there is no possibility of ivaste of the feed delivered from the bin or container 10 into the trough 6 and the feed is delivered to either side of the trough which is accessible to the animal from either side of the feeder. lt will be apparent that the agitator means at opposite sides of the container tend or serve to alternately discharge feed into different sections of the trough. The quantity of feed delivered to the trough G of the feeder is controlled by the animal When contacting with the head or nose board 20 which is adapted to be swung thereby to either side of the feeder and during this swinging movement of the board or section 2O the feed is auto matically delivered from the bin or container l() into the trough.

The ends 5 ,of the frame A have mounted thereon cover sections or boards 40 which overhang the trough 6 so as to exclude rain, sleet or snovv therefrom, thereby shielding the trough during inclement Weather.

It is-of course understood that any num ber of compartments 18 may he provided in the bin or container 10. It also Will be obvious that the feed in the respective compartments 1S will be individually delivered therefrom Without any disturbance of the feed in the other compartments, as the feed of the contents of the compartments is regulated by the action of each head section 20, because the action of one of the same does not in any manner disturb the others, thus it is seen that when feed is delivered from one of the compartments the others are inactive for delivery of feed therefrom into the trough G of the feeder. Y

From the foregoing it is thought that the construction and manner of operation of the feeder will be clearly understood and there fore a more extended explanation has been omitted.

That is claimed is:

l. A' feeder of the character described, comprising a trough, a container above the trough, means Within the container to provide plural discharge openings and deflectors to direct the contents into the openings, a head board svvingingly supported beneath said means and actuated from.

either side of the trough by an animal, whereby the contents of the container Will discharge through one opening at one side of the board and the other opening at the opposite side thereof, and duplicate agitator means Within the container and operated by movement of the head board.

2. A feeder of the character described, comprising a trough, a container above the trough, means Within the container to provide plural discharge 'openings and deiiectors to direct the contents into the openings, a head board sivingingly supported beneath said means and actuated from either side of the trough by an animal, whereby the contents of the container will discharge through one opening at one side of the board and the other opening at the opposite side thereof, duplicate agita-tor means Wit-hin the container and operated by movement of the head board, and means active upon the duplicate agitators to sustain the head board normally in neutral position centrally of the trough.

3. A feeder of the character' described, comprising a trough, a container above the trough, means Within the container to provide plural discharge openings and deiec tors to direct the contents into the openings, a head board sivingingly supported beneath said means and actuated from either side of the trough by an animal, whereby the contents of the container will discharge throu h one opening at one side of the board and t e other opening at the opposite side thereof, duplicate agitator means Within the container and operated by movement of the head board, means active upon the duplicate agitators to sustain the head board normally in neutral position centrally of the trough, and a central division wall within-the trough and rising vertically from its bottom to adistance in close theffree end of the head board. 4: Ina feedeiga bin having compartments formed 'with outlets at its bottom, a trough beneath the outlets, agitator slidesfin each compartment and having spring pressed followers, a head board supported beneath each compartment andl connectedy with the proximity.. to

slides to alternately operate the same, anda dividingrwall in the trough to provide feed spaces on opposite sides of the same.

5. In a feeder, al bin having compartments formed with outlets at its'bottom, a receiver beneath the outlets,'agitator slides in each compartment and having spring pressed followers, a head board supported beneath each compartment` andzconnected with the slides to alternately operate the same and controlled byV an animal, a dividing Wallin vboard the trough :to provide feed spaces on opposite sides of the same, and means active Vupon the agitator slides to sustain the head in substantial vertical alinement.

with the dividing wall in lthe trough.

6. In a feeder of the character described, a frame, a substantially hopper shaped'container in 'said frame and having discharge openings in its lowermost portion, vertical transverse partitions within said container for dividing it into independent compartments, a trough in the frame and spaced beneath the said container, a false bottom within the container remote from the discharge opening and forming slots on opposite sides thereof, a shaft mounted in the ends of the container immediately beneath the false bottom, head boardsfor the respective compartments swingingly supported by said shaft, and adaptedto direct the contents from the container alternately on either sideY of the center of said trough, andV .agitating mechanisms interiorlyV of thereon-` tainer and actuated by the head boards.

V 7. In a feeder of the character described,

a frame, a substantially hopper shaped con-- tainer insaid frame and having discharge openings in its lowermost portion, vertical transverse partitions within said vcontainer for dividing it into independent compartments, a trough in the frame and spaced be# neath f the said container, al false bottomwithin the container remote from the discharge opening and forming slots on opposite sides thereof, a shaft mounted inthe ends of the container immediately beneath the false bottom, headboards for the re spective compartments swingingly support! ed by*- said shaft, and adapted to direct the contents from the container alternately onV 

